Stay Protected From Identity Thieves During Tax Season and Beyond

Identity theft is among the fastest-growing crimes across America with millions of people affected every year. One out of every four residents in Charlotte, North Carolina, may expect to become a victim of this crime. When a thief steals your identity, it can destroy your financial future or even subject you to arrest if the thief commits a crime while using your identity.

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Because of the high incidence of this crime and the severe consequences that may follow, it’s important that you take the issue of identity protection seriously. This time of the year during tax season is one of the best times for criminals who want to steal your identity. Just one important tax documents that contain personal information may be stolen out of your mailbox, and a thief would be on the fast track to assuming your identity. The following few tips will show you how to prevent identity theft, protecting yourself, your credit and your good name during tax time and all year around.

1. Lock Your Mailbox: Mail stolen straight out of mailboxes is one of the top methods thieves use to gain access to sensitive information. The Post Office has no problem with you using a locked mailbox.

2. Bulk Up Your Passwords: With banking and paying bills done almost exclusively on computers, a weak password could be all that is standing between you and an identity thief. Use a unique combination of letters and numbers for all of your passwords, and change those passwords often.

3. Shred Every Document: Even one of those simple pre-approved offers for a credit card may be plucked out of your trash and used by a thief to steal your good name. Consider using a secure shredding service to shred all unwanted mail and old documents. Also, have any old hard drives professionally destroyed.

Allow PROSHRED® Charlotte To Help

Here at PROSHRED® Charlotte, we’ve been providing identity protection to Charlotte residents for 25 years. We know how to prevent identity theft. Our experts at PROSHRED® Charlotte will come directly to you to take care of all of your shredding and hard-drive destruction needs. Contact us today, we’ll be happy to provide you with a free estimate.